The complaint was screened out after a review determined that the allegations did not fall within the jurisdiction of the member complaints process. The Complainant, a refugee claimant, alleged that a member of the Refugee Protection Division questioned them in a harsh and biased manner, causing mental distress, and requested evidence in a way they felt was judgmental and racist.
A review of the hearing confirmed that the Member was polite, professional, and respectful throughout, with no evidence of racism or bias. The Ombudsperson found that these matters fall under adjudicative independence and fell outside the scope of the Procedures for Making a Complaint about a Member. The Chairperson accepted the recommendation to screen out the complaint, and the file was closed.